The Washington critic., 1887-05-21

sted In eveSy foot OF 1t. You ask what
think of the future Of Georgetown, and
whether In my opinion 1t is good place for
investment. Twill answer the second In
quiry first, and sny that know OF no part
Of the District where judicious Investments
will bring better return, and where there
is less chance OF depreciation In value should
my financial crisis occur. My reasons for
this are, that Georgetown Is not new place,
iut town well built up, and to certain
extent in the vigor Of mature life. There
are comparatively few mortgages on prop
erty and consequently few forced sales
which In time Of financial trouble have an
influence on surrounding property.
TN view OF the fact that there Is but lit
lie unimproved property in the town pro-
per, there is not much room for
large speculative schemes, but all
lots offered for sale find ready purchasers
at good prices. II has been said that there
is but little activity in real estate In the
Ancient Cemetery Is this correctf 1t is
true that there are in the upper part of the
city large bodies OF ground which are not
in the market, but this is explained by the
fact that these are old places which have
been occupied by the owners and their an
cestors since before the cession of the
District, and having pridein their old homes
and bs'ng under no pecuniary pressure, the
owners have preferred to keep their houses
intact rather than subdivide and sell. 1t is,
however, the fact that where old places
have been subdlvlded and sold that the
prices have been good and purchasers been
numerous. In my own experience in the
past five years, have as trustee In equity
subdivided and sold lanes which have since
been resold OF from one to four hundred
per cent. advance on the price thought by
the court to be adequate.
"In regard to the future OF Georgetown,
would say that In my opinion the pros
poets are unusually bright. In the past few
years people have awakened to the fact
that they could purchase and build In
Georgetown at prices ridIculously low in
comparison with ruling rates for less eligi-
BILE property In Washington, and the result
has been an unusual amount OF improve
ment in every direction.
"Aside from the natural beauties OF the
town, which all admit, and the advantages
Of societies, churches and schools, George
town offers special inducements to those
seeking,homes In the fact that the water sup
ply is most abundant that in summer there
is never-failing river breeze at night; that
there is a remarkably well-selected free
library, the Peabody, and a superior free
night-school for young men, the LlnthIcum
Institute. Besides this, investors should not
lose sight of the new bridge building over
the Potomac at the Aqleduct and the GER
tainty OF the early improvement Of Rock
Creek, both of which cannot fail to produce
beneficial results aud enhance the value Of
property.
~ would also say that | consider the
country northwest Of Georgetown as that In
which any expansion Of the city would be
located. have recently been over large
portion of the land lying near to and west
Of the Tenleytown turnpike, and, after care
full examination Of the country, can say,
without fear OF contradiction, that It is the
most beautiful location for homes and bet
ter adapted for town lots than any other
portion of the District outside OF the two
cities.n
THE CITY BUILDING WESTWARD.
Mr.. ii. ID. Cooke, an old resident oi
West Washington, says: ~ am and always
have been firm believer In the value o.
property on Georgetown Heights. One oil
the principal reasons why the price OF
property here has not been higher is In the
fact that nearly all the property has been
held by the old families OF Georgetown In
large tracts, and 1t has always been difficult
to get them to part with any OF their
ground.
"To say nothing Of the natural advan'
tages Of the Heights, property here is moi
selling at fair value, in comparison witt
other localities In Washington. There mus
naturally be IN evenipg-up process before
long, which will advance property In Yves
Washington to q price equal with that o.
other portions Of the city, In dearebl,